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jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
This one I think deserves a 4 star based off of quality. The prose is strong and engaging like most people expect from Adam Silveria. The characters were deep and engaging, I could understand the motives towards being unwound due to his depression. As someone who’s felt depression/anxiety I liked seeing this explored and it’s a retelling of sorts of “Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind” which is one of my favourite films (despite not being a Jim Carey fan). I like seeing books explore newer films from the early 2000s with outstanding ideas as retellings, because a lot are more relatable to our society now than some of the original stories that are always retold. It’s also just an interesting phenomenon seeing books I read as a preteen now being retold.
Unfortunately, I think I was just too old for this book and my actual enjoyment was 2.5 because I just didn’t connect as much as I would’ve liked.
Unfortunately, I think I was just too old for this book and my actual enjoyment was 2.5 because I just didn’t connect as much as I would’ve liked.
eliimellie26's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book broke me and then put me back together.
A story about learning to accept yourself for who you are no matter what the world tells you that you need to be.
A story about learning to accept yourself for who you are no matter what the world tells you that you need to be.
dododenise's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I almost stopped reading the book in the beginning but then Thomas showed up and I was hooked. Aaron is not an easy protagonist, and I never really liked him. What I thought most when reading this book was “Thomas and Genevieve deserve better”.
This book does a surprising amount with the number of pages it has. Yet, as someone who enjoys speculative fiction and dystopia I do wish the mind altering aspect of the story was explored more beyond the scope of what it could and could not do for Aaron.
This book does a surprising amount with the number of pages it has. Yet, as someone who enjoys speculative fiction and dystopia I do wish the mind altering aspect of the story was explored more beyond the scope of what it could and could not do for Aaron.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Dementia, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
tjs_whatnot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaitjboyer's review against another edition
3.0
THE BOY WITH NO DIRECTION TAUGHT ME SOMETHING UNFORGETTABLE: HAPPINESS COMES AGAIN IF YOU LET IT.
This book was NOT what I was expecting it to be. The back of the book, I believe, never gave too much insight on truly what this book would be revolving around as much as some of his other works, but I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing. Turning the first few pages into the book and reading about Leteo made me extremely confused at first, but it all made sense within the first couple of chapters.
With that being said, I was NOT expecting that plot twist... I am not sure if I was supposed to see that coming or what but I did not and it threw me off, in a good way. I had a feeling that Aaron was planning to get a procedure throughout the entire book, considering that it was mentioned a lot, but Silvera really twisted everything last second and made me do a double-take! Within him explaining how Aaron had already gotten the procedure and it, essentially, failed it all made sense!
That being said, the chapters following the explanation and how Aaron sort of loses his memory was a grey area for me. I found myself rereading those sections to make sure I was understanding things correctly and to make sure I was piecing everything together the way I should be. Maybe the idea of him losing track of time could have been better executed? I am not too sure if I am the only one who feels this way.
Although, I read the deluxe version with the new ending to give Aaron a happier one and I enjoyed that! I liked that I could sort of choose which way I wanted to end the book myself, obviously I chose to read the happier ending.
All in all, I enjoyed this book as a whole! There were some sections that were grey for me but I do not hate it or dislike it, for that matter:)
I'VE BECOME THIS HAPPINES SCAVENGER WHO PICKS AWAY AT THE UGLINESS OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE IF THERE'S HAPPINESS TUCKED AWAY IN MY TRAGEDIES, I'LL FIND IT NO MATTER WHAT. IF THE BLIND CAN FIND JOY IN MUSIC, AND THE DEAF CAN DISCOVER IT WITH COLORS, I WILL DO MY BEST TO ALWAYS FIND THE SUN IN THE DARKNESS BECAUSE MY LIFE ISN'T ONE SAD ENDING - IT'S A SERIES OF ENDLESS HAPPY BEGINNINGS.
This book was NOT what I was expecting it to be. The back of the book, I believe, never gave too much insight on truly what this book would be revolving around as much as some of his other works, but I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing. Turning the first few pages into the book and reading about Leteo made me extremely confused at first, but it all made sense within the first couple of chapters.
With that being said, I was NOT expecting that plot twist... I am not sure if I was supposed to see that coming or what but I did not and it threw me off, in a good way. I had a feeling that Aaron was planning to get a procedure throughout the entire book, considering that it was mentioned a lot, but Silvera really twisted everything last second and made me do a double-take! Within him explaining how Aaron had already gotten the procedure and it, essentially, failed it all made sense!
That being said, the chapters following the explanation and how Aaron sort of loses his memory was a grey area for me. I found myself rereading those sections to make sure I was understanding things correctly and to make sure I was piecing everything together the way I should be. Maybe the idea of him losing track of time could have been better executed? I am not too sure if I am the only one who feels this way.
Although, I read the deluxe version with the new ending to give Aaron a happier one and I enjoyed that! I liked that I could sort of choose which way I wanted to end the book myself, obviously I chose to read the happier ending.
All in all, I enjoyed this book as a whole! There were some sections that were grey for me but I do not hate it or dislike it, for that matter:)
I'VE BECOME THIS HAPPINES SCAVENGER WHO PICKS AWAY AT THE UGLINESS OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE IF THERE'S HAPPINESS TUCKED AWAY IN MY TRAGEDIES, I'LL FIND IT NO MATTER WHAT. IF THE BLIND CAN FIND JOY IN MUSIC, AND THE DEAF CAN DISCOVER IT WITH COLORS, I WILL DO MY BEST TO ALWAYS FIND THE SUN IN THE DARKNESS BECAUSE MY LIFE ISN'T ONE SAD ENDING - IT'S A SERIES OF ENDLESS HAPPY BEGINNINGS.
tvgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
apinkcloudsummer's review against another edition
Okay, I've read reviews about this novel and though I'm barely in the beginning still, I do know he is coming to the terms of being Gay. Though reading it so far I can tell he actually does like/loved Genevieve. Sometimes I wished people remembered why there is a "B" in lgBt.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
4.0
Original rating from June 19th, 2016: 5 stars
Updated rating from February 16th, 2021: 4 stars
This book has been on my favorites shelf for a couple years. Honestly, I didn’t remember much of it (that fits well with the theme of the book) until rereading it. Still such a good book as a reread, although I think I wanted a bit more out of it the second time around. Regardless, this is a heartbreaking story about memory, self acceptance, mental health, and love.
Updated rating from February 16th, 2021: 4 stars
This book has been on my favorites shelf for a couple years. Honestly, I didn’t remember much of it (that fits well with the theme of the book) until rereading it. Still such a good book as a reread, although I think I wanted a bit more out of it the second time around. Regardless, this is a heartbreaking story about memory, self acceptance, mental health, and love.
decayoflyre's review against another edition
2.0
it made me feel SO uncomfortable and I don't even know why :/